Migration
Eagle Resolve 2015 seeks to boost cooperation among Gulf states
Stars and Stripes
March 10, 2015
U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to depart Al Galail, Qatar, May 3, 2013, via a CH-53E Super Stallion after Exercise Eagle Resolve 13. Eagle Resolve is an annual multilateral exercise designed to enhance regional cooperation by Gulf Cooperation Council nations and U.S. Central Command. (Juanenrique Owings/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to depart Al Galail, Qatar, May 3, 2013, via a CH-53E Super Stallion after Exercise Eagle Resolve 13. Eagle Resolve is an annual multilateral exercise designed to enhance regional cooperation by Gulf Cooperation Council nations and U.S. Central Command. (Juanenrique Owings/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct bilateral training with members of the Qatar Emiri Land Forces in Al Galail, Qatar, April 28, 2013. Eagle Resolve is an annual multilateral exercise designed to enhance regional cooperation by Gulf Cooperation Council nations and U.S. Central Command. (Juanenrique Owings/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to depart Al Galail, Qatar, May 3,2013, via a CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron after Exercise Eagle Resolve 13. Eagle Resolve is an annual multilateral exercise designed to enhance regional cooperation byGulf Cooperation Council nations and U.S. Central Command. (Juanenrique Owings/U.S. Marine Corps)
NAPLES, Italy — About 3,000 American troops will participate in an exercise in Kuwait this month aimed at strengthening coordination among Persian Gulf allies.
Eagle Resolve 2015 continues a series of exercises hosted by members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and conducted with international allies. It is the first since GCC nations joined in U.S.-led airstrikes against the Islamic State group last year and the first hosted by Kuwait.
U.S. defense officials have said the exercise is not related to current operations and that planning began in January last year.
The exercise tests a combined military headquarters through various “injects,” or fictional military scenarios. It will include tactical demonstrations of air, maritime and land forces and finish with a seminar for senior military leaders.
The exercise will involve representatives from the headquarters of U.S. Central Command, which planned the exercise, and American theater commanders for land, maritime and air forces. Marines from the USS Fort McHenry will conduct training with participant forces.
More than a dozen nations are expected to participate in Eagle Resolve, CENTCOM said in news release.
The GCC nations — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman — cooperate on economic and social issues across the region. The GCC is working to strengthen military ties to offset the perceived threat from Iran across the Persian Gulf.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the U.A.E. have all participated in airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria as part of the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve.
Eagle Resolve runs from March 8 to 31.